Chompy thing

Today, a big chompy thing came and deconstructed the gnarled carports. Fortunately, mine is still standing so I was able to start parking under it yesterday. Life seems to be getting back to normal, slowly but surely. Whew.

Escape! Freedom!

When the boys and I woke up on the 28th, we had our own little "Christmas" with what was under the tree from my mom. Since church was cancelled, we went ahead and got dressed and got the heck out of the house! The roads were clear enough and we wanted out. I was just going to go for a little drive, but somehow we wound up 1.5 hrs away at the beach, hah. I didn't have warm clothes or even car entertainment, but the boys slept the whole way there and I had a very pleasant, gorgeous spiritual drive on the way out there.

I shot this out the window as I drove by. The sun was so cool looking.

This was on the way back, about 15 mins from the beach. Apparently millions and millions of gallons of water were being shot out from both melting snow and rain and flooding this whole area.

I only know that because this man, Mark, told me. He looked official enough - out surveying the land and his name was embroidered on his shirt. You can believe anything someone says if they a) are holding a clipboard and b) have their name on their shirt.

Christmas Day. Happier.

We came back home the night of the 27th, and most of the snow had melted from the roads, but parking in our parking lot was a crapshoot between the twisted carports and random piles of snow here and there. Unfortunately, everything kept re-freezing at night.

So... it definitely was a memorable Christmas. hah

Christmas Eve: Day 2 of Jen's breakdown

So, it finally got to be too much for me. Trapped in the house, a depressing Christmas, blah blah blah. When we woke Christmas Eve morning, there was alot of snow. I think about 3 inches fell during the night - totally the opposite of untrapping me. Remember at this point, I already haven't been able to move my car for three days.
About 9a.m., I got a knock on the door. It was the apartment maintenance guy saying get your car out now... the carports are collapsing. What?! I haven't been able to move it for three days - how do you propose we do that??

Drew, April and Matthew hung out while the burly men shoveled and pushed my car as I pressed on the gas as hard as I could. Finally I spun toward the main aisle and out to the street. The driving conditions were horrendous and I couldn't see a blessed thing. The street was frozen and unplowed and parking on the street was at a premium. Our road had become one way as it was lined with cars pushed out to the middle. A mess, truly.

Finally on my second lap around, I found a beautiful spot right in front of the complex and successfully completed my very first parallel park in the snow. Woot. It was only one attempt, too! I dont do that well in normal driving conditions. :) (Ok, there was alot of space but still! I couldn't see out any of my windows hah)

By this point, I was in tears - being left alone, no Santa, trapped in the apartment, crappy situation, carports falling. Yah, I was a typical girl mess. So depressed, and far from ok.

Luckily, I had an opportunity to escape to my in-laws. At first I was hestitant then thought, yes yes please!!! So we packed super fast, loaded the car with a suitcase and some presents, and the boys and I headed south!

Desperation

So, the apartment manager has called 10 vendors and no one has an available plow to clear out our complex parking lot. They also can't locate a snowblower in the entire county of Thurston. So, we're sort of stuck. They did say corporate was bringing down some de-icer and that should be here by this evening, and they'll put that behind everyone's car. Hmm.

In a flee of desperation, I tried shoveling. A little girl helped me. I felt like the penguins from Madagascar with their little plastic spoons hah. We were basically chipping at huge chunks of ice. The four inches next to the ground are just solid.

It doesn't look like that much, does it? Well... the top layer is all over here in a pile.

I don't know how it got there though if there are no plows? It doesn't make sense, does it? That, by the way, is a dumpster that is flat on the ground... that is all flat ground under the snow. Wild huh?

And this below, all of our bushes look like scoops of ice cream hah.

And because it's too cold outside, we brought the snow in. This was from the other day.

Heh

Snow Day 4: The Storm

Hah, well I think the official count was an additional eight inches last night. The freezing rain left a cool glaze on everything, and the snow has a way awesome crust that about breaks your shin when you try to step forward. It's pretty cool, really and the roads don't look that bad. I am thinking we're going to venture out today to see what everything looks like.

We woke and Jake helped me with breakfast. This poor car looks so cold!

Cool glaze on a tree

A spiderweb, I think

Light pole. Reminds me of Narnia. Kinda. Not really much, I suppose. hah

Love this little sno-cap

Waiting for the roof to collapse

Our stairway

This is just cool

Matthew climbing up to the freeway

Snow Day: The Third

What?! You are getting sick of the snow-themed entries?? Uh, yah. Me too. Home again, Day Three. But today was different. Today was exciting! Today... we left the apartment!! (Da da dahhhh). It was exciting getting out of my parking spot, but after finally punching the gas and shooting out, we were all good. Except for the one time I slid down a hill - very slowly - and missed a big black SUV by inches, hah. Yeehaw!

Anyway, a few shots from around town.

Red Robin
Treks in the frozen ice/snow. This pretty much what Olympia looks like everywhere hah.

As you can see, we had a few hours of sunshine today and it was glorious! But, tomorrow begins our "Winter Storm" and freezing rain is expected. I have never personally experienced that but I've heard its no fun. We did some grocery shopping today just in case we don't leave the apartment for another week. hah

Snow Day: The Sequel

I know what you are thinking. Sequels are never as good as the original. We were trapped inside again today, and I just found out a few hours ago that schools are cancelled tomorrow as well. Sigh. We are up to about 8 inches now around here.

This morning

4 pm - people coming home from work. The boys and I spend our day watching people trying to get up the hill. We need some lawn chairs and popcorn.
6 inches on the trunk of my car

And closer to 8 on the railing

I like the snow. The ice is miserable and is what keeps me inside. I just hate to risk taking the boys out - there are so many closed streets and accidents out there. I guess only one kid showed up to Matthew's daycare today - he was bummed he couldn't go but I just hated to risk the drive. Tomorrow, though, we may jaunt out. I am BORED in here!

Snow Day

The boys cheered when I told them school was cancelled today. We woke up to a couple of inches of snow...

And it has pretty much continued nonstop since then.

And made some (unattractive) Christmas cookies

They like to use a LOT of sprinkles... hmm.

For me?

Matthew was so excited when I picked him up from school, he could hardly contain himself. Really, I thought he just had to go pee, but he said no, the dancing and jumping was truly just from excitement. Anyway, this is what he had to give me. I love it!

Winter time

Some silly boy pics

The acting bug

So Matthew had his first debut on the big stage! Dec. 7 was the Paramount Christian Church Christmas play. I think it turned out pretty well, really. I was impressed with the little kiddos on stage.

My darling shepherd had the audience rolling as he stopped two or three times to flash a smile and give a thumbs up to the crowd, and then turned and gave Mary and Joseph a thumbs up. What a goofball.

All Aboard

We caught the 12'o'clock train and headed down the Sacramento River.

Nana didn't want to ride, but gave the final send off

Bye Nana